Medication-Assisted Treatment in Connecticut

What is Medication-Assisted Treatment for Addiction?

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a comprehensive approach to treating substance use disorders, such as opioid use disorder (OUD)or alcohol use disorder (AUD). It involves the use of FDA-approved medications in combination with counseling, behavioral therapies, and other support services. 

The Waterstone Medication-Assisted Treatment Program

At Waterstone, we use best practices for outpatient treatment such as Motivational Interviewing, Person-Centered Recovery Planning, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Medication-Assisted Addiction Treatments like Suboxone to address the individualized complexities of a client’s addiction. All these practices are evidence-based and backed by the most current research.

In addition, each client is assigned a treatment team to provide multidisciplinary addiction care and treat mental health issues if necessary. Our model is unique in that we offer weekly medication management and support from both therapist and prescribing physician but more importantly because we are able to provide individualized and person-centered care which results in more successful MAT tapers, quicker response to client difficulties, better treatment outcomes and change that is sustainable long-term.  Our end goal is total recovery and therefore we support the pursuit of new life goals as a core part of long-term recovery and development of positive social support systems.

Five Core Principles of the Waterstone Medication-Assisted Treatment Program:

1. Provide an effective, non-judgemental opiate addiction treatment using a state-of-the-art treatment model which includes frequent medication management opportunities and long-term person-centered therapy.
2. Offer highest quality services available in a highly compassionate, dignified, and safe environment.
3. Offer those services to all major insurances including Medicaid.
4. Facilitate access to services quickly and without delay.
5. Help any individual seeking treatment for addiction to heal, grow and self-actualize through goal-oriented treatment and individualized care.

Medication-Assisted Treatment Medications Used at Waterstone:

1. Buprenorphine (Suboxone) for Opioid Treatment: Suboxone is a partial opioid agonist that includes buprenorphine and naloxone to treat opioid addiction. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that works with the same brain receptors that are normally triggered by opioids. However, buprenorphine does not create the same effects that opioids do. Therefore, patients will be relieved from the physical symptoms associated with withdrawal and will experience diminished cravings for additional opioid use. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist (also called an “opioid blocker”) that counteracts the effects of opioids. By diminishing the effects of opioids, patients are able to focus on the other components of recovery.
2. Subutex (Sublocade): Comprised of buprenorphine hydrochloride as its main active ingredient, Subutex is a partial opioid agonist-antagonist that is prescribed to treat individuals struggling with addictions to opioids. Subutex is given daily in the form of a dissolvable tablet that is placed under the tongue. It becomes absorbed into the body to help patients experience less intense withdrawal symptoms. It also helps to diminish cravings for additional opioids such as prescription pain medications, heroin, or morphine. By alleviating the physical symptoms of withdrawal, Subutex elicits the mental clarity required for men and women to focus on the emotional aspects of addiction and recovery.
3. Vivitrol (Naltrexone): Vivitrol is a brand name for the injectable form of the medication naltrexone, which is used to help individuals with opioid and alcohol use disorders. It works by blocking the effects of opioids and reducing the desire to drink alcohol, making it a valuable part of a comprehensive addiction treatment plan. Vivitrol is administered as a monthly injection, and unlike oral naltrexone, which requires daily use, the injection provides a longer-acting solution. The medication works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, preventing opioids like heroin or prescription painkillers from producing their usual effects, such as euphoria. In the case of alcohol use disorder, Vivitrol helps to reduce cravings and the reinforcing effects of alcohol.
4. Disulfiram (Antabuse): Disulfiram is commonly used to help people with an alcohol use disorder who have already stopped drinking maintain their ability to no longer drink alcohol. Disulfiram, also known by the brand name Antabuse, works by producing unpleasant side effects and sensitivity to alcohol. It is designed as a deterrent to drinking. When alcohol enters the body, it is converted into acetaldehyde and then into acetic acid. Disulfiram, acting as an alcohol antagonist drug, blocks the conversion from acetaldehyde to acetic acid, resulting in an upsurge of acetaldehyde, which is toxic and causes the individual to become ill.
5. Acamprosate (Campral):  Acamprosate is used to help overcome your drinking problem. It is not a cure for alcoholism, but rather will help you maintain abstinence. Acamprosate reduces alcohol cravings by restoring the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain. It’s thought to work by modifying the balance of GABA and glutamate, which are neurotransmitters that regulate nervous system excitability. 

If you are suffering from a substance use disorder and are interested in learning more about addiction medication, the first step is to schedule an appointment with a caregiver who specializes in addiction medicine. Call 203-245-0412 today, or schedule an appointment using this form.